Pope Francis meets with climate activist Al Gore

By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis met Friday with former US vice president Al Gore, who is in Rome for a three-day summit sponsored by his “Climate Reality Project.”

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Gore praised the Pope for the impact of the encyclical Laudato sí on the 2015 Paris Accords on climate change, and for the recent Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum. Gore described the Vatican as an example of “ecological transition” in practice, pointing to the announcement of the establishment of an agrivoltaic plant at Santa Maria di Galeria.

For his part, Pope Francis thanked Gore for the “‘climate concern’ that has always inspired his political activity.” The two leaders agreed “on the need to accelerate the transition despite the resistance of large fossil fuel companies” and “discussed possible forms of collaboration to try to have a greater impact on public opinion.”

After the private meeting at the Pope’s residence in Casa Santa Marta, Gore visited St Peter’s Basilica, where he met with Cardinal Archpriest Mauro Gambetti. The Director of Communications for the Papal Basilica, Father Enzo Fortunato, said that the Gore made a commitment to contribute to the next World Children’s Day, in 2026, as well as for the upcoming Jubilee Year of 2025.